The Swedish Baseball and Softball Federation released its 24-man roster for the upcoming 2010 European Championship in Stuttgart, Heidenheim and Neuenburg. Besides Peter Johannessen of the De Angelis Godo Knights and Adam Sorgi who is playing in the US, the team of head coach Dennis Cook solely consists of players out of the Swedish Elitserien, although Joakim Claesson made a few starts for the German clubs HSV Stealers earlier this season. Not on the roster are Christian Staehely (El Paso Diablos), Nicklas Melin (Leksand Lumberjacks), Philip Gajzler (Sundbyberg Heat) and Florida Marlin Bryan Berglund.
The Swedish team will depart to Milan, Italy on July 15 to finish off preparations with a training camp and the Italian Baseball Week in Lodi, Torino, Piacenza and Novara. Opponents in the warm-up tournament will be Spain, Italy and the Czech Republic. Besides the five night games they also will have two-hour practices in the morning to get in shape for the European Championship. Team manager Ulf Steinvall said on the federation website that they never had such good preparations before. They will stay in northern Italy until July 21st before traveling to Stuttgart. They are open the tournament against Greece on July 23rd in Heidenheim.
Complete Roster Sweden:
Pitchers: Michael Andersson (Skoevde), Oscar Carlstedt, Jakob Claesson, Joakim Claesson (all three Stockholm), Curtis Dionne (Goteborg), Peter Jansson (Gefle), Kent Karlsson (Karlskoga Bats), Rickard Leander, Peter Sjoers (both Leksand Lumberjacks), Nick Soubiea (Sundbyberg Heat)
Catchers: Peter Elfving (Sundbyberg Heat), Robin Lausen (Leksand Lumberjacks), Bjoern Johannessen (Stockholm)
Infielders: Tomas Jansson, Kristoffer Sjoeberg (both Gefle), Henrik Johannessen (Karlskoga Bats), Lukas Olsson (Leksand Lumberjacks), Magnus Pilegård (Stockholm), Rickard Reimer (without Team), Adam Sorgi (USA)
Outfielders: Tony Dermendziev (Tranås), Peter Johannessen (De Angelis Godo Knights), Christoffer Johansson (Karlskoga Bats), Per Lindgren (Sundbyberg Heat)
Coaching Staff: Dennis Cook (Head Coach), Scott Scudder, Stephen Labay, Rickard Reimer, Doug Skiles (Assistant Coaches)